Toll-like receptor

ABSTRACT

An isolated Toll-like-receptor polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a variant or a fragment thereof which has immunomodulatory activity. Polynucleotides encoding such a Toll-like receptor are also described. A method for identification of a substance that modulates Toll-like receptor activity comprises contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test substance and monitoring for immunomodulatory activity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel Toll-like receptor or a variant thereof. A variant may demonstrate Toll-like receptor activity such as activation of NFκB, or may inhibit Toll-like receptor activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A family of human Toll-like receptors has been described in the literature. These receptors are termed Toll-like receptors in view of common structural features shared with a Drosophila Toll (dToll) receptor molecule which is involved in embryonic development. Toll and Toll-Like receptors are type I transmembrane proteins, with extracellular leucine rich repeat motifs and an intracellular signalling domain homologous to that of members of the interleukin 1 receptor superfamily.

[0003] Drosophila Toll also plays an important role in the adult fly and is involved in immune surveillance mechanisms required for recognition of bacterial and fungal pathogens and regulation of specific innate immune defense gene expression. Activation of dToll receptors in response to infection by specific micro-organisms is thought to require the production of a protein ligand called Spaetzle. The human Toll-like receptors (hTLRs) are also thought to participate in mechanisms of innate immunity and inflammation acting as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) for bacteria and other micro-organisms. hTLRs are expressed on antigen presenting cells including monocytes and dendritic cells and like dToll play roles in innate immunity. TLRs can elicit pro-inflammatory cytokine production and induce expression of cell surface co-stimulatory receptors required for activation of T-cells. Some hTLRs may help to co-ordinate interactions between cells of the innate and acquired immune systems to orchestrate an integrated immune response to infection.

[0004] The specific functions of two mammalian TLRs, TLR2 and TLR4, have recently been identified. TLR2 and TLR4 are involved in mediating host responses to gram positive and gram negative bacteria through recognition of specific bacterial wall components. It has also recently been shown that TLR4 mediates responses to certain viral proteins including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (Nature Immunology 1: 398 2000).

[0005] Additionally TLRs may form heterodimeric functional complexes. Components of the intracellular signal transduction pathways of some hTLRs appear to be shared with interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor transduction pathways. Stimulation of TLR2 and TLR4 leads to activation of NFκB via an adapter protein MyD88 and recruitment of the IL-1 receptor associated kinases (IRAKs).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A novel Toll-like receptor is now provided which is a screening target for the identification and development of novel pharmaceutical agents which modulate the activity of the receptor and in particular have immunomodulatory activity. These agents may be used in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, systemic infections and autoimmune diseases, such as asthma, rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, viral, fungal and bacterial infections, septic shock syndrome associated with systemic infection involving gram positive and gram negative bacteria, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis. These agents may also be used as immunoadjuvants to enhance or alter the immune response in vaccine therapy.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides an isolated Toll-like-receptor polypeptide which comprises:

[0008] (i) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;

[0009] (ii) a variant of (i) which has immunomodulatory activity; or

[0010] (iii) a fragment of (i) or (ii) which retains immunomodulatory activity.

[0011] Preferably, a variant has at least 80% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, more preferably at least 95% identity therewith, for example 97% identity therewith.

[0012] The invention also provides a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention. Such a polynucleotide may be a polynucleotide which encodes a Toll-like receptor polypeptide which has immunomodulatory activity. The polynucleotides of the invention may be DNA or RNA, for example mRNA. A polynucleotide according to the invention comprises:

[0013] (a) the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or a sequence complementary thereto;

[0014] (b) a sequence which hybridises under stringent conditions to a sequence as defined in (a);

[0015] (c) a sequence that is degenerate as a result of the genetic code to a sequence as defined in (a) or (b); or

[0016] (d) a sequence having at least 60% percent identity to a sequence as defined in (a), (b) or (c).

[0017] The present invention also provides a polypeptide expressed from a polynucleotide according to (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, in particular a polypeptide comprising a toll-like receptor according to the invention, encoded by the mRNA derived from a DNA sequence according to (a) or (b) above, thus the invention provides an isolated toll-like receptor polypeptide which is obtainable by expression in vitro or in vivo of a DNA molecule comprising the sequence of nucleotides as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1.

[0018] The polypeptides of SEQ ID NO 2 and SEQ ID NO 4, which are different isoforms expressed from the multiple exon tlr9 gene, are herein referred to as TLR9 and TLR9-A, respectively. TLR9-A is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3, which is encoded within SEQ ID NO. 1 except for the initiating methionine, that is encoded by a second exon as illustrated in FIG. 1. (see Hemmi et. al. Nature 408, 740-745 2000; Du et al, European Cytokine Network, 11: 362-371, 2000; Chuang and Ulevitch, European Cytokine Network, 11: 372-378 for isolation of the cDNAs, and corresponding sequence database accessions EMBL:AB045180, EMBL:AF259262, EMBL:AF245704).

[0019] In further aspects of the invention we provide:

[0020] an expression vector capable of expressing a polypeptide of the invention comprising a polynucleotide as defined above.

[0021] a host cell comprising an expression vector of the invention.

[0022] an antibody specific for a polypeptide of the invention.

[0023] a method for identification of a compound that modulates Toll-like receptor activity, comprising contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test compound and monitoring for immunomodulatory activity.

[0024] Compounds which are identifiable in accordance with this method may be used in the treatment of a subject having a disorder that is responsive to Toll-like receptor modulation such as an inflammatory or cardiovascular disorder or systemic infection or autoimmune disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, viral, fungal and bacterial infections, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, septic shock syndrome associated with systemic infection involving gram positive and gram negative bacteria, diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. In particular, compounds which are identifiable in accordance with this method may be used in the treatment of a subject having allergic asthma or rhinitis. Further, such compounds may have immunomodulatory activity and be of use in the treatment of, or as adjuvants in vaccination against, bacterial or viral infections or as components of anti-cancer vaccines.

[0025] Compounds identifiable in accordance with this method include, in particular, synthetic or naturally occurring oligopeptides or polypeptides, oligonucleotides or polynucleotides which bind directly to the Toll-like receptor of the invention, and synthetic or naturally occurring oligopeptides or polypeptides, oligonucleotides or polynucleotides which modulate the Toll-like receptor of the present invention via one or more intermediate signal transducers. Such oligo- or polynucleotides may be “CG-rich” sequences or sequences including one or more unmethylated CpG nucleotide pairs.

[0026] In an alternative aspect of the invention, a polypeptide comprises a fragment or variant of SEQ ID NO 2 which is capable of inhibiting the activity of TLR9 or TLR9-A, for use in the treatment of an immune or inflammatory disorder.

[0027] In a further aspect of the invention, a polypeptide or polynucleotide in accordance with the invention or a compound identifiable in accordance with the invention is provided for use as an adjuvant or as an immunotherapeutic agent, for example in a vaccine.

Brief Description of the Sequences

[0028] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the amino acid sequence of human protein TLR9 and its encoding DNA;

[0029] SEQ ID NO; 2 is the amino acid sequence alone of TLR9;

[0030] SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence of human protein TLR9-A and its encoding cDNA (EMBL:AF259262);

[0031] SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence alone of TLR9-A (Hemmi et al.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the exon arrangement encoding TLR9 and TLR9-A;

[0033]FIG. 2 shows tissue distribution data for TLR9 (using a human tissue cDNA plate). The profile shows predominant expression in tonsil and adenoid tissues with lower levels of expression detected in adipose, adrenal, foetal brain, cerebellum, jejunum, lung, myometrium, omentum, head of pancreas, rectum, skeletal muscle, spleen and thymus tissues;

[0034]FIG. 3 shows tissue distribution data for TLR9 (using a human disease cDNA plate). The profile shows predominant expression in lung tissue, bone marrow and PBMC with lower levels of expression detected in some colon, breast and brain/cerebellum samples;

[0035]FIG. 4 illustrates, in diagrammatic form, the predicted structural topology of human TLR9—“TM” is the transmembrane portion, “TIR” is the cytosolic region conserved among interleukin and toll-like receptors known as the Toll Interleukin Receptor domain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] A single open reading frame was identified in genomic DNA (SEQ ID NO. 1), which encodes a protein of 1055 residues, predicted molecular weight 118,515 (PeptideSort—GCG Software) and the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 2. This sequence included the TIR domain common to Toll-like receptors and members of the interleukin-1 receptor family e.g. IL1RI, and the N-terminal sequence contains structural features as shown in FIG. 4. These features include, in order from the N- to the C-terminus, a predicted signal sequence with a potential cleavage site between residues 48 and 49 or 50 and 51 (SPScan in GCG; SignalP), a leucine-rich repeat motif domain, a potential transmembrane region and the Toll/IL-1R homologous region (TIR; Pfam Database). These motifs confirmed that the protein was likely to be expressed as a single transmembrane receptor-like molecule belonging to the TLR rather than the IL1R family and therefore, it was designated TLR9 based on existing published and in-house nomenclature.

[0037] Throughout the present specification and the accompanying claims the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and “including” are to be interpreted inclusively. That is, these words are intended to convey the possible inclusion of other elements or integers not specifically recited, where the context allows.

[0038] The present invention relates to a human Toll-like receptor, referred to herein as TLR9, and variants or fragments thereof. Sequence information for TLR9 is provided in SEQ ID NO: 1 (nucleotide and amino acid) and in SEQ ID NO: 2 (amino acid only). A polypeptide of the invention consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of a functional variant of that sequence. One important variant of TLR9 is TLR9-A, sequence information for which is provided in SEQ ID NO: 3 (nucleotide and amino acid) and in SEQ ID NO: 4 (amino acid only).

[0039] The polypeptides are provided in isolated form. The term “isolated” is intended to convey that the polypeptide is not in its native state, insofar as it has been purified at least to some extent or has been synthetically produced, for example by recombinant methods. The polypeptide may be mixed with carriers or diluents which will not interfere with the intended purpose of the polypeptide and still be regarded as substantially isolated. The term “isolated” therefore includes the possibility of the polypeptide being in combination with other biological or non-biological material, such as cells, suspensions of cells or cell fragments, proteins, peptides, expression vectors, organic or inorganic solvents, or other materials where appropriate, but excludes the situation where the polypeptide is in a state as found in nature.

[0040] A polypeptide of the invention may also be in a substantially purified form, in which case it will generally comprise the polypeptide in a preparation in which more than 50%, e.g. more than 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%, by weight of the polypeptide in the preparation is a polypeptide of the invention. Routine methods, can be employed to purify and/or synthesise the proteins according to the invention. Such methods are well understood by persons skilled in the art, and include techniques such as those disclosed in Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) Edition, CSH Laboratory Press (1989), the disclosure of which is included herein in its entirety by way of reference.

[0041] The term “variants” refers to polypeptides which have the same essential character or basic biological functionality as TLR9. The essential character of TLR9 can be defined as that of a Toll-like receptor. In particular, it refers to a polypeptide which has an immunomodulatory activity. In one aspect of the invention, a polypeptide of the invention may activate NFκB or may elicit pro-inflammatory cytokine production or induce expression of cell surface co-stimulatory receptors required for activation of T-cells.

[0042] Alternatively, a variant of the polypeptide of the invention is one which exhibits binding to the same ligand as TLR9. Such ligand binding may be assayed using the assays described below.

[0043] In other aspects of the invention a variant is one which does not show the same function as TLR9 but which may be used to inhibit this function. For example, a variant polypeptide for use in an assay or therapy is one which inhibits TLR9 activity, for example by inhibiting or competing out ligand binding or receptor complex formation by TLR9. Alternatively, a variant may be one which inhibits ligand binding to TLR9. Such a variant may inhibit activation of NFκB or inhibit cytokine production and expression of cell surface co-stimulatory receptors. Such inhibitors may be used as immunomodulators to reduce inappropriate TLR activation in asthma or other chronic inflammatory diseases, or septic shock.

[0044] To determine whether a variant has the same essential function as TLR9, the immunomodulatory activity can be determined by monitoring the effect of a substance on different immune responses. For example the effect of the substance under test on NFκB activation mediated through binding the polypeptide of the present invention may be monitored. This can be carried out, for example, by co-transfection of a construct expressing the polypeptide with a construct containing a reporter gene, such as secreted placental alkaline phosphatase, under the control of a suitable NFκB-responsive promoter and monitoring for expression of the reporter gene.

[0045] Alternatively, other immunomodulatory activity such as the production of cytokines can be determined by monitoring cytokine production following incubation of a test substance with a cell expressing a polypeptide of the invention. Such assays may be carried out in the presence or absence of additional T-lymphocytes to assess the effect of such cytokines, or the direct action of a polypeptide of the invention, on such T-lymphocytes to thus determine immunomodulatory activity.

[0046] Alternatively, the Toll-like receptor functionality is as a peptide which binds a ligand of TLR9, inhibits immunomodulatory activity by TLR9 or inhibits ligand binding to TLR9 and can be determined by an assay as described below.

[0047] Preferably, a polypeptide of the invention will show the structural features associated with a Toll-like receptor. Preferably, a polypeptide of the invention, or a functional fragment thereof, contains one or more of the following structural features associated with a Toll-like receptor: an extracellular region containing leucine-rich repeat motif and cysteine-rich regions involved in ligand binding; a single hydrophobic transmembrane region; and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain sharing homology with other TLRs and members of the IL-1 receptor family.

[0048] Typically, polypeptides with more than about 65% identity, preferably at least 80% or at least 90% and particularly preferably at least 95%, at least 97%, or at least 99% identity, with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2 over a region of at least 20, preferably at least 30, at least 40, at least 60 or at least 100 contiguous amino acids or over the full length of SEQ ID NO: 2, are considered as variants of the proteins. Identity is calculated using the widely used GCG (University of Wisconsin) suite of programs and preferably using the distances software (correction method). Such variants may include allelic variants and the deletion, modification or addition of single amino acids or groups of amino acids within the protein sequence, as long as the peptide maintains the basic biological functionally of the Toll-like receptor, having a similar function to TLR9 or inhibits such function such as preventing ligand binding or TLR9 mediated activation. Such variants also include isoforms such as TLR9-A, which is 23 amino acids (or 2.2%) shorter than TLR9 (see SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4) and thus shows 97.8 identity therewith. Transcription of the nucleotide sequence presented in SEQ ID NO: 1 can result, due to variable mRNA splicing involving a second exon encoding an alternative initiating methionine, in an mRNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 which, when translated, results in the polypeptide TLR9-A depicted in SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0049] Amino acid substitutions may be made, for example from 1, 2 or 3 to 10, 20 or 30 substitutions. The modified polypeptide generally retains activity as a TLR9 receptor or inhibitor of TLR9 receptor activity. Conservative substitutions may be made, for example according to the following Table. Amino acids in the same block in the second column and preferably in the same line in the third column may be substituted for each other. ALIPHATIC Non-polar G A P I L V Polar-uncharged C S T M N Q Polar-charged D E K R AROMATIC H F W Y

[0050] Shorter polypeptide sequences are within the scope of the invention. For example, a peptide of at least 20 amino acids or up to 50, 60, 70, 80, 100 or 150 amino acids in length is considered to fall within the scope of the invention as long as it demonstrates the basic biological functionality of TLR9 or inhibits TLR9. In accordance with this aspect of the invention the peptide may also comprise an epitope of TLR9 for generation of antibodies. In particular, but not exclusively, this aspect of the invention encompasses the situation when the protein is a fragment of the complete protein sequence and may represent a ligand-binding region (N-terminal extracellular domain) or an effector binding region (C-terminal intracellular domain). Fragments from which the C-terminus has been removed may be used as decoy receptors. Other fragments such as a secreted or soluble form of the receptor may be generated for use in an assay or in therapy in accordance with the invention. Such fragments can also be used to raise anti-TLR9 antibodies.

[0051] Polypeptides of the invention may be chemically modified, e.g. post-translationally modified. For example, they may be glycosylated or may comprise modified amino acid residues. They may also be modified by the addition of histidine residues or an epitope tag for example by a (His) 8 or (His) 6 sequence or a HA, T7, Myc or Flag tag to assist their purification or detection. They may be modified by the addition of a signal sequence to promote insertion into the cell membrane. Such modified polypeptides fall within the scope of the term “polypeptide” of the invention.

[0052] The invention also includes nucleotide sequences that encode for TLR9 or variants thereof as well as nucleotide sequences which are complementary thereto. The nucleotide sequence may be RNA or DNA including genomic DNA, synthetic DNA or cDNA. Preferably the nucleotide sequence is a DNA sequence and most preferably, a cDNA sequence. Nucleotide sequence information is provided in SEQ ID NO: 1. Such nucleotides can be isolated from human cells or synthesised according to methods well known in the art, as described by way of example in Sambrook et al. Such nucleotides can typically be isolated from activated cells of the immune system, heart, lung, pancreatic islet cells and lymph nodes, adenoid and tonsil tissues. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the tissue distribution of RNA encoding TLR9, as determined by extraction of total RNA from normal or disease tissue or cells which is then used to generate cDNA for real time quantitative PCR using suitable primers and probes (TaqMan analysis) to assess expression patterns. The profiles show differential expression across tissues tested and predominance to sites containing inflammatory cell types.

[0053] Typically a polynucleotide of the invention comprises a contiguous sequence of nucleotides which is capable of hybridising under selective conditions to the coding sequence or the complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0054] A polynucleotide of the invention can hybridize to the coding sequence or the complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (or of SEQ ID NO: 3) at a level significantly above background. Background hybridisation may occur, for example, because of other cDNAs present in a cDNA library. The signal level generated by the interaction between a polynucleotide of the invention and the coding sequence or complement of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or of SEQ ID NO: 3 is typically at least 10 fold, preferably at least 100 fold, as intense as interactions between other polynucleotides and the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or of SEQ ID NO: 3. The intensity of interaction may be measured, for example, by radiolabelling the probe, e.g. with ³²P, Selective hybridisation may typically be achieved using conditions of low stringency (0.03M sodium chloride and 0.03M sodium citrate at about 40° C.), medium stringency (for example, 0.03M sodium chloride and 0.03M sodium citrate at about 50° C.) or high stringency (for example, 0.03M sodium chloride and 0.03M sodium citrate at about 60° C.).

[0055] The coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 may be modified by nucleotide substitutions, for example from 1, 2 or 3 to 10, 25, 50 or 100 substitutions. The polynucleotides of the present invention may alternatively or additionally be modified by one or more insertions and/or deletions and/or by an extension at either or both ends. The modified polynucleotide generally encodes a polypeptide which has Toll-like receptor activity or inhibits the activity of TLR9. Degenerate substitutions may be made and/or substitutions may be made which would result in a conservative amino acid substitution when the modified sequence is translated, for example as shown in the Table above.

[0056] A nucleotide sequence of the invention which is capable of selectively hybridising to the complement of the DNA coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 will generally have at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 over a region of at least 20, preferably at least 30, for instance at least 40, at least 60, more preferably at least 100 contiguous nucleotides or most preferably over the full length of SEQ ID NO: 1. Methods of measuring nucleic acid and protein homology are well known in the art. For example the UWGCG Package provides the BESTFIT program which can be used to calculate homology (Devereux et al 1984). Similarly the PILEUP and BLAST algorithms can be used to line up sequences (for example are described in Altschul 1993, and Altschul et al 1990). Many different settings are possible for such programs. In accordance with the invention, the default settings may be used.

[0057] Any combination of the above mentioned degrees of sequence identity and minimum sizes may be used to define polynucleotides of the invention, with the more stringent combinations (i.e. higher sequence identity over longer lengths) being preferred. Thus, for example a polynucleotide which has at least 90% sequence identity over 25, preferably over 30 nucleotides forms one aspect of the invention, as does a polynucleotide which has at least 95% sequence identity over 40 nucleotides. The most preferred sequences have at least 70% sequence identity over at least 70% of the full length of the sequence provided by SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0058] The nucleotides according to the invention have utility in production of the proteins according to the invention, which may take place in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo. The nucleotides may be involved in recombinant protein synthesis or indeed as therapeutic agents in their own right, utilised in gene therapy techniques. Nucleotides complementary to those encoding TLR9, or antisense sequences, may also be used in gene therapy, such as in strategies for down regulation of expression of the proteins of the invention.

[0059] Polynucleotides of the invention may be used as a primer, e.g. a PCR primer, a primer for an alternative amplification reaction, a probe e.g. labelled with a revealing label by conventional means using radioactive or non-radioactive labels, or the polynucleotides may be cloned into vectors.

[0060] Such primers, probes and other fragments will preferably be at least 10, preferably at least 15 or at least 20, for example at least 25, at least 30 or at least 40 nucleotides in length. They will typically be up to 40, 50, 60, 70, 100 or 150 nucleotides in length. Probes and fragments can be longer than 150 nucleotides in length, for example up to 200, 300, 400, 500 nucleotides in length, or even up to a few nucleotides, such as five or ten nucleotides, short of the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0061] The present invention also includes expression vectors that comprise nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins or variants thereof of the invention. Such expression vectors are routinely constructed in the art of molecular biology and may for example involve the use of plasmid DNA and appropriate initiators, promoters, enhancers and other elements, such as for example polyadenylation signals which may be necessary, and which are positioned in the correct orientation, in order to allow for protein expression. Other suitable vectors would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. By way of further example in this regard we refer to Sambrook et al.

[0062] Polynucleotides according to the invention may also be inserted into the vectors described above in an antisense orientation in order to provide for the production of antisense RNA. Antisense RNA or other antisense polynucleotides may also be produced by synthetic means. Such antisense polynucleotides may be used as test compounds in the assays of the invention or may be useful in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

[0063] Preferably, a polynucleotide of the invention or for use in the invention in a vector is operably linked to a control sequence which is capable of providing for the expression of the coding sequence by the host cell, i.e. the vector is an expression vector. The term “operably linked” refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. A regulatory sequence, such as a promoter, “operably linked” to a coding sequence is positioned in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the regulatory sequence.

[0064] The vectors may be for example, plasmid, virus or phage vectors provided with an origin of replication, optionally a promoter for the expression of the said polynucleotide and optionally a regulator of the promoter. The vectors may contain one or more selectable marker genes, for example an ampicillin resistance gene in the case of a bacterial plasmid or a resistance gene for a fungal vector. Vectors may be used in vitro, for example for the production of DNA or RNA or used to transfect or transform a host cell, for example, a mammalian host cell. The vectors may also be adapted to be used in vivo, for example in a method of gene therapy.

[0065] Promoters and other expression regulation signals may be selected to be compatible with the host cell for which expression is designed. For example, yeast promoters include S. cerevisiae GAL4 and ADH promoters, S. pombe nmt1 and adh promoter. Mammalian promoters include the metallothionein promoter which can be induced in response to heavy metals such as cadmium. Viral promoters such as the SV40 large T antigen promoter or adenovirus promoters may also be used. All these promoters are readily available in the art.

[0066] Mammalian promoters, such as β-actin promoters, may be used. Tissue-specific promoters may be used. Viral promoters may also be used, for example the Moloney murine leukaemia virus long terminal repeat (MMLV LTR), the rous sarcoma virus (RSV) LTR promoter, the SV40 promoter, the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) IE promoter, adenovirus, HSV promoters (such as the HSV IE promoters), or HPV promoters, particularly the HPV upstream regulatory region (URR). Viral promoters are readily available in the art.

[0067] The vector may further include sequences flanking the polynucleotide which comprise sequences homologous to eukaryotic genomic sequences, preferably mammalian genomic sequences, or viral genomic sequences. This will allow the introduction of the polynucleotides of the invention into the genome of eukaryotic cells or viruses by homologous recombination. In particular, a plasmid vector comprising the expression cassette flanked by viral sequences can be used to prepare a viral vector suitable for delivering the polynucleotides of the invention to a mammalian cell. Other examples of suitable viral vectors include herpes simplex viral vectors and retroviruses, including lentiviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and HPV viruses (such as HPV-16 or HPV-18). Gene transfer techniques using these viruses are known to those skilled in the art. Retrovirus vectors for example may be used to stably integrate the polynucleotide giving rise to the RNA into the host genome. Replication-defective adenovirus vectors by contrast remain episomal and therefore allow transient expression.

[0068] The invention also includes cells that have been modified to express the TLR9 polypeptide or a variant thereof. Such cells include transient, or preferably stable higher eukaryotic cell lines, such as mammalian cells or insect cells, lower eukaryotic cells, such as yeast or prokaryotic cells such as bacterial cells. Particular examples of cells which may be modified by insertion of vectors encoding for a polypeptide according to the invention include mammalian HEK293T, CHO, HeLa and COS cells. Preferably the cell line selected will be one which is not only stable, but also allows for mature glycosylation and cell surface expression of a polypeptide. Cells such as T-cells, monocytes or dendritic cells expressing the receptor may be used for example in screening. Expression may be achieved in transformed oocytes. A polypeptide of the invention may be expressed in cells of a transgenic non-human animal, preferably a mouse. A transgenic non-human animal expressing a polypeptide of the invention is included within the scope of the invention.

[0069] It is also possible for the proteins of the invention to be transiently expressed in a cell line or on a membrane, such as for example in a baculovirus expression system. Such systems, which are adapted to express the proteins according to the invention, are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0070] According to another aspect, the present invention also relates to antibodies (either polyclonal or preferably monoclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, Fab fragments) which have been raised by standard techniques and are specific for a polypeptide of the invention. Such antibodies could for example, be useful in purification, isolation or screening methods involving immunoprecipitation techniques and may be used as tools to further elucidate the function of TLR9 or a variant thereof, or indeed as therapeutic agents in their own right. Antibodies may also be raised against specific epitopes of the proteins according to the invention. Such antibodies may be used to block ligand binding to the receptor. Alternatively an antibody may be provided which acts as an agonist, to cross link receptors of the invention to mediate receptor activity. An antibody, or other compound, “specifically binds” to a protein when it binds with high affinity to the protein for which it is specific but does not bind or binds with only low affinity to other proteins. A variety of protocols for competitive binding or immunoradiometric assays to determine the specific binding capability of an antibody are well known in the art (see for example Maddox et al 1993). Such immunoassays typically involve the formation of complexes between the “specific protein” and its antibody and the measurement of complex formation.

[0071] An important aspect of the present invention is the use of polypeptides according to the invention in screening methods to identify compounds that may act as modulators of Toll-like receptor activity. Any suitable form may be used for the assay to identify a modulator of TLR9 activity. In general terms, such screening methods may involve contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test compound and then measuring receptor activity.

[0072] Screening methods may alternatively involve contacting a polypeptide of the invention with a test compound and then monitoring for the effect on immunomodulatory activity.

[0073] The binding of the substance to a polypeptide in the invention can be determined directly. For example, a radiolabelled test substance can be incubated with a polypeptide of the invention and so that binding of the test substance to the polypeptide can be monitored. Typically, the radiolabelled test substance can be incubated with cell membranes containing the polypeptide until equilibrium is reached. The membranes can then be separated from a non-bound test substance and dissolved in scintillation fluid to allow the radioactive content to be determined by scintillation counting. Non-specific binding of the test substance may also be determined by repeating the experiments in the presence of a saturating concentration of a non-radioactive ligand. Preferably, a binding curve is constructed by repeating the experiment with various concentrations of the test substance.

[0074] Cell based assays may also be carried out, for example using a cell expressing the TLR9 receptor, and contacting the cell with another cell to look for ligand binding or activation of TLR9-mediated pathways such as NFκB activation. Alternatively cells expressing TLR9 constitutively may be provided for use in assays for TLR9 function. Such constitutively expressed TLR9 may demonstrate TLR9 activity in the absence of ligand binding. Additional test substances may be introduced in any assay to look for inhibitors of ligand binding or inhibitors of TLR9-mediated activity. Assays are preferably carried out using cells expressing TLR9, and incubating such cells with the test substance optionally in the presence of TLR9 ligand. Alternatively an antibody may be used to complex TLR9 and thus mediate TLR9-activity. Test substances may then be added to assess the effect on such activity.

[0075] In preferred aspects, a host cell is provided expressing the receptor, or a receptor complex of TLR9 (or TLR9-A) comprising a homodimer, a heterodimer of TLR9 (or TLR9-A) with another Toll-like receptor, or a complex of TLR9 (or TLR9-A) with protein cofactors, and containing an NFκB responsive reporter construct. The host cell is treated with a substance under test for a defined time. The expression of the reporter gene, such as secreted placental (SP) alkaline phosphatase or luciferase is assayed. The assay enables determination of whether the addition of compounds inhibits the induction of the response in target cells. Alternatively the assay may be carried out to identify cytokine production or it may be carried out in the presence of T-cells to identify inducement of co-stimulatory receptors required for activation of T-cells.

[0076] Assays may also be carried out to identify modulators of receptor shedding. A polypeptide of the invention can be cleaved from the cell surface. Shedding the receptor would act to down regulate receptor signalling. Thus, cell based assays may be used to screen for compounds which promote or inhibit receptor-shedding. Assays may also be carried out to identify substances which modify TLR9 receptor expression for example substances which down regulate expression. Such assays may be carried out for example by using antibodies for TLR9 to monitor levels of TLR9 expression.

[0077] Additional control experiments may be carried out. Assays may also be carried out using known ligands of other Toll-like receptors to identify ligands which are specific for polypeptides of the invention. Preferably, the assays of the invention are carried out under conditions which would result in immunomodulatory NFκB mediated activity in the absence of the test substance, to identify inhibitors of Toll-like receptor mediated activity, or agents which inhibit ligand-induced Toll-like receptor activity.

[0078] Suitable test substances which can be tested in the above assays include combinatorial libraries, defined chemical entities, peptides and peptide mimetics, oligonucleotides and natural product libraries, such as display (e.g. phage display libraries) and antibody products. In a preferred embodiment, the test substance is a variant peptide of the invention. In particularly preferred embodiments, suitable test substances which may be candidate ligands for binding to and modulation of TLR9 or TLR9-A include synthetic or naturally occurring oligonucleotides or polynucleotides which bind directly to the Toll-like receptor or which modulate the Toll-like receptor of the present invention via one or more intermediate signal transducers. Such oligo- or polynucleotides may be “CG-rich” sequences or sequences including one or more unmethylated CpG nucleotide pairs.

[0079] The assay may be carried out using full length TLR9 to identify a variant peptide which interferes with TLR9 mediated activity, for example by inhibiting ligand binding.

[0080] Test substances may be used in an initial screen of, for example, 10 substances per reaction, and the substances of these batches which show inhibition or activation tested individually. Test substances may be used at a concentration of from 1 nM to 1000 μM, preferably from 1 μM to 100 μM, more preferably from 1 μM to 10 μM.

[0081] A protein-binding assay may be developed using a polypeptide of the invention, preferably one encoding the extracellular ligand-binding domain, to identify novel protein ligands of TLR9. Particular examples may be screening of a human cDNA expression library for protein ligands of TLR9 by yeast 2-hybrid protein interaction assay (e.g. as described in International Patent Application No. WO99/49294).

[0082] Another aspect of the present invention is the use of polynucleotides encoding the TLR9 polypeptides of the invention to identify mutations in TLR9 genes which may be implicated in human disorders or to identify cells in which TLR9 is expressed. Identification of such mutations may be used to assist in diagnosis of immune system, lung, kidney, heart or other disorders or susceptibility to such disorders and in assessing the physiology of such disorders. In particular the polynucleotides of the invention may assist in diagnosis of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. For example, a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) has been identified in the genomic DNA encoding TLR9 (G/A nucleotide: The SNP Consortium database accession number TSC0164834). This single base pair change lies in the DNA region encoding the 23 N-terminal residues of TLR9, and this region is spliced out of the mRNA encoding TLR9-A. The nucleotide at this SNP position may affect the efficiency of mRNA splicing in the two different variants—a G at this position may possibly disrupt the splicing machinery and an A might lead to more efficient splicing. Additionally, the presence of a G as compared to an A in an unspliced mRNA would introduce a stop codon and result in different N terminal protein sequences upon translation of that mRNA, thus the two polymorphic variants of the tlr9 gene may encode receptors which have differing expression levels and/or differing functional activity levels. The present invention provides a diagnostic tool for determining the polymorphic variant in an individual by detecting the DNA sequence at the SNP site. Such a tool may incorporate a nucleotide probe specific for one or other of the polymorphic variants, for example an oligonucleotide of from 5 to 50, preferably 5-20 nucleotides, complementary to a fragment of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 which extends over the SNP site or a fragment complementary to that sequence with the exception of the single nucleotide change (G to A) at the SNP site. The present invention also provides a method of detecting a polymorphic variant in the tlr9 gene by determining the sequence of nucleotides at and around the SNP site identified by the SNP consortium database accession number TSC0164834, in particular by determining whether the nucleotide at that SNP site is a G or an A.

[0083] Another aspect of the present invention is the use of the compounds that have been identified by screening techniques referred to above in the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders which are responsive to regulation of TLR9 receptor activity. In addition, variant peptides of the invention which inhibit TLR9-mediated activity, for example which inhibit ligand binding or prevent hTLR9 immunomodulatory activity may be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of such disorders. Antibodies which recognise TLR9 may similarly be used in therapy.

[0084] In particular, such compounds may be used in the treatment of inflammatory, cardiovascular, systemic infection or autoimmune disease. The compounds may be used to treat bacterial, viral or fungal infections, asthma, rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, an inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, septic shock syndrome associated with systemic infection involving gram positive and gram negative bacteria, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis.

[0085] In an alternative aspect, the invention provides agents which activate TLR9 mediated immunomodulation for use as an immunoadjuvant, or TLR9, and variants thereof, or polynucleotides or DNA encoding a polypeptide of the invention which may be administered for use as immunoadjuvants to enhance or alter the immune response in an individual to an antigen.

[0086] The compounds identified according to the screening methods outlined above may be formulated with standard pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients as is routine in the pharmaceutical art, and as fully described in Remmington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Eastern Pennsylvania 17^(th) Ed. 1985, the disclosure of which is included herein of its entirety by way of reference.

[0087] The compounds may be administered by enteral or parenteral routes such as via oral, buccal, anal, pulmonary, intravenous, intra-arterial, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, topical or other appropriate administration routes. The dose of a compound to be administered may be determined according to various parameters, especially according to the substance used; the age, weight and condition of the patient to be treated; the route of administration; and the required regimen. Again, a physician will be able to determine the required route of administration and dosage for any particular patient. A typical daily dose is from about 0.1 to 50 mg per kg of body weight, according to the activity of the compound, the age, weight and conditions of the subject to be treated, the type and severity of the disease and the frequency and route of administration. Preferably, daily dosage levels are from 5 mg to 2 g.

[0088] Nucleic acid encoding an inhibitor of TLR9 activity may be administered to the mammal. In an alternative aspect of the invention, nucleic acid encoding TLR9 or a variant thereof may be administered to the animal. Such a variant shows immunomodulatory activity of TLR9 such as inducing cytokine production and expression of cell surface co-stimulatory receptors required for activation of T-cells. Nucleic acid, such as RNA or DNA, and preferably, DNA, is provided in the form of a vector, such as the polynucleotides described above, which may be expressed in the cells of the mammal.

[0089] Nucleic acid encoding the peptide may be administered to the animal by any available technique. For example, the nucleic acid may be introduced by injection, preferably intradermally, subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Alternatively, the nucleic acid may be delivered directly across the skin using a nucleic acid delivery device such as particle-mediated gene delivery. The nucleic acid may be administered topically to the skin, or to the mucosal surfaces for example by intranasal, oral, intravaginal, intrarectal administration.

[0090] Uptake of nucleic acid constructs may be enhanced by several known transfection techniques, for example those including the use of transfection agents. Examples of these agents includes cationic agents, for example, calcium phosphate and DEAE-Dextran and lipofectants, for example, lipofectam and transfectam. The dosage of the nucleic acid to be administered can be altered. Typically the nucleic acid is administered in the range of 1 pg to 1 mg, preferably to 1 pg to 10 μg nucleic acid for particle mediated gene delivery and 10 μg to 1 mg for other routes.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Screening for Compounds Which Exhibit Protein Modulating activity

[0091] Mammalian cells, such as Hek293, CHO and HeLa cells over-expressing TLR9 protein are generated for use in the assay. 96 and 384 well plate, high throughput screens (HTS) are employed. TLR9 induced cell activation can be monitored through activation of a signal transduction event (typically resulting in activation of NFκB or AP-1) or transcriptional activation of a reporter gene (typically regulated via NFκB or AP-1 responsive elements). TLR9 induced activation of a reporter gene such alkaline phosphatase or luciferase can be easily assessed using a suitable colourimetric or fluorimetric assay to measuring production. Such assays may be used to identify receptor antagonists capable of blocking ligand induced TLR9 activation, inhibitors capable of blocking TLR9 intracellular signal transduction or receptor agonists capable of activating TLR9. Secondary screening involves evaluation of TLR9 modulators in disease related cells. Tertiary screens involve the study of modulators in rat and mouse models of disease relevant to the target.

1 4 1 3165 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(3165) 1 atg ccc atg aag tgg agt ggg tgg agg tgg agc tgg ggg ccg gcc act 48 Met Pro Met Lys Trp Ser Gly Trp Arg Trp Ser Trp Gly Pro Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 cac aca gcc ctc cca ccc cca cag ggt ttc tgc cgc agc gcc ctg cac 96 His Thr Ala Leu Pro Pro Pro Gln Gly Phe Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu His 20 25 30 ccg ctg tct ctc ctg gtg cag gcc atc atg ctg gcc atg acc ctg gcc 144 Pro Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Gln Ala Ile Met Leu Ala Met Thr Leu Ala 35 40 45 ctg ggt acc ttg cct gcc ttc cta ccc tgt gag ctc cag ccc cac ggc 192 Leu Gly Thr Leu Pro Ala Phe Leu Pro Cys Glu Leu Gln Pro His Gly 50 55 60 ctg gtg aac tgc aac tgg ctg ttc ctg aag tct gtg ccc cac ttc tcc 240 Leu Val Asn Cys Asn Trp Leu Phe Leu Lys Ser Val Pro His Phe Ser 65 70 75 80 atg gca gca ccc cgt ggc aat gtc acc agc ctt tcc ttg tcc tcc aac 288 Met Ala Ala Pro Arg Gly Asn Val Thr Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn 85 90 95 cgc atc cac cac ctc cat gat tct gac ttt gcc cac ctg ccc agc ctg 336 Arg Ile His His Leu His Asp Ser Asp Phe Ala His Leu Pro Ser Leu 100 105 110 cgg cat ctc aac ctc aag tgg aac tgc ccg ccg gtt ggc ctc agc ccc 384 Arg His Leu Asn Leu Lys Trp Asn Cys Pro Pro Val Gly Leu Ser Pro 115 120 125 atg cac ttc ccc tgc cac atg acc atc gag ccc agc acc ttc ttg gct 432 Met His Phe Pro Cys His Met Thr Ile Glu Pro Ser Thr Phe Leu Ala 130 135 140 gtg ccc acc ctg gaa gag cta aac ctg agc tac aac aac atc atg act 480 Val Pro Thr Leu Glu Glu Leu Asn Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asn Ile Met Thr 145 150 155 160 gtg cct gcg ctg ccc aaa tcc ctc ata tcc ctg tcc ctc agc cat acc 528 Val Pro Ala Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser His Thr 165 170 175 aac atc ctg atg cta gac tct gcc agc ctc gcc ggc ctg cat gcc ctg 576 Asn Ile Leu Met Leu Asp Ser Ala Ser Leu Ala Gly Leu His Ala Leu 180 185 190 cgc ttc cta ttc atg gac ggc aac tgt tat tac aag aac ccc tgc agg 624 Arg Phe Leu Phe Met Asp Gly Asn Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Asn Pro Cys Arg 195 200 205 cag gca ctg gag gtg gcc ccg ggt gcc ctc ctt ggc ctg ggc aac ctc 672 Gln Ala Leu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu 210 215 220 acc cac ctg tca ctc aag tac aac aac ctc act gtg gtg ccc cgc aac 720 Thr His Leu Ser Leu Lys Tyr Asn Asn Leu Thr Val Val Pro Arg Asn 225 230 235 240 ctg cct tcc agc ctg gag tat ctg ctg ttg tcc tac aac cgc atc gtc 768 Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Glu Tyr Leu Leu Leu Ser Tyr Asn Arg Ile Val 245 250 255 aaa ctg gcg cct gag gac ctg gcc aat ctg acc gcc ctg cgt gtg ctc 816 Lys Leu Ala Pro Glu Asp Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Ala Leu Arg Val Leu 260 265 270 gat gtg ggc gga aat tgc cgc cgc tgc gac cac gct ccc aac ccc tgc 864 Asp Val Gly Gly Asn Cys Arg Arg Cys Asp His Ala Pro Asn Pro Cys 275 280 285 atg gag tgc cct cgt cac ttc ccc cag cta cat ccc gat acc ttc agc 912 Met Glu Cys Pro Arg His Phe Pro Gln Leu His Pro Asp Thr Phe Ser 290 295 300 cac ctg agc cgt ctt gaa ggc ctg gtg ttg aag gac agt tct ctc tcc 960 His Leu Ser Arg Leu Glu Gly Leu Val Leu Lys Asp Ser Ser Leu Ser 305 310 315 320 tgg ctg aat gcc agt tgg ttc cgt ggg ctg gga aac ctc cga gtg ctg 1008 Trp Leu Asn Ala Ser Trp Phe Arg Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Leu 325 330 335 gac ctg agt gag aac ttc ctc tac aaa tgc atc act aaa acc aag gcc 1056 Asp Leu Ser Glu Asn Phe Leu Tyr Lys Cys Ile Thr Lys Thr Lys Ala 340 345 350 ttc cag ggc cta aca cag ctg cgc aag ctt aac ctg tcc ttc aat tac 1104 Phe Gln Gly Leu Thr Gln Leu Arg Lys Leu Asn Leu Ser Phe Asn Tyr 355 360 365 caa aag agg gtg tcc ttt gcc cac ctg tct ctg gcc cct tcc ttc ggg 1152 Gln Lys Arg Val Ser Phe Ala His Leu Ser Leu Ala Pro Ser Phe Gly 370 375 380 agc ctg gtc gcc ctg aag gag ctg gac atg cac ggc atc ttc ttc cgc 1200 Ser Leu Val Ala Leu Lys Glu Leu Asp Met His Gly Ile Phe Phe Arg 385 390 395 400 tca ctc gat gag acc acg ctc cgg cca ctg gcc cgc ctg ccc atg ctc 1248 Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Thr Leu Arg Pro Leu Ala Arg Leu Pro Met Leu 405 410 415 cag act ctg cgt ctg cag atg aac ttc atc aac cag gcc cag ctc ggc 1296 Gln Thr Leu Arg Leu Gln Met Asn Phe Ile Asn Gln Ala Gln Leu Gly 420 425 430 atc ttc agg gcc ttc cct ggc ctg cgc tac gtg gac ctg tcg gac aac 1344 Ile Phe Arg Ala Phe Pro Gly Leu Arg Tyr Val Asp Leu Ser Asp Asn 435 440 445 cgc atc agc gga gct tcg gag ctg aca gcc acc atg ggg gag gca gat 1392 Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ser Glu Leu Thr Ala Thr Met Gly Glu Ala Asp 450 455 460 gga ggg gag aag gtc tgg ctg cag cct ggg gac ctt gct ccg gcc cca 1440 Gly Gly Glu Lys Val Trp Leu Gln Pro Gly Asp Leu Ala Pro Ala Pro 465 470 475 480 gtg gac act ccc agc tct gaa gac ttc agg ccc aac tgc agc acc ctc 1488 Val Asp Thr Pro Ser Ser Glu Asp Phe Arg Pro Asn Cys Ser Thr Leu 485 490 495 aac ttc acc ttg gat ctg tca cgg aac aac ctg gtg acc gtg cag ccg 1536 Asn Phe Thr Leu Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Asn Leu Val Thr Val Gln Pro 500 505 510 gag atg ttt gcc cag ctc tcg cac ctg cag tgc ctg cgc ctg agc cac 1584 Glu Met Phe Ala Gln Leu Ser His Leu Gln Cys Leu Arg Leu Ser His 515 520 525 aac tgc atc tcg cag gca gtc aat ggc tcc cag ttc ctg ccg ctg acc 1632 Asn Cys Ile Ser Gln Ala Val Asn Gly Ser Gln Phe Leu Pro Leu Thr 530 535 540 ggt ctg cag gtg cta gac ctg tcc cac aat aag ctg gac ctc tac cac 1680 Gly Leu Gln Val Leu Asp Leu Ser His Asn Lys Leu Asp Leu Tyr His 545 550 555 560 gag cac tca ttc acg gag cta cca cga ctg gag gcc ctg gac ctc agc 1728 Glu His Ser Phe Thr Glu Leu Pro Arg Leu Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser 565 570 575 tac aac agc cag ccc ttt ggc atg cag ggc gtg ggc cac aac ttc agc 1776 Tyr Asn Ser Gln Pro Phe Gly Met Gln Gly Val Gly His Asn Phe Ser 580 585 590 ttc gtg gct cac ctg cgc acc ctg cgc cac ctc agc ctg gcc cac aac 1824 Phe Val Ala His Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg His Leu Ser Leu Ala His Asn 595 600 605 aac atc cac agc caa gtg tcc cag cag ctc tgc agt acg tcg ctg cgg 1872 Asn Ile His Ser Gln Val Ser Gln Gln Leu Cys Ser Thr Ser Leu Arg 610 615 620 gcc ctg gac ttc agc ggc aat gca ctg ggc cat atg tgg gcc gag gga 1920 Ala Leu Asp Phe Ser Gly Asn Ala Leu Gly His Met Trp Ala Glu Gly 625 630 635 640 gac ctc tat ctg cac ttc ttc caa ggc ctg agc ggt ttg atc tgg ctg 1968 Asp Leu Tyr Leu His Phe Phe Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Leu Ile Trp Leu 645 650 655 gac ttg tcc cag aac cgc ctg cac acc ctc ctg ccc caa acc ctg cgc 2016 Asp Leu Ser Gln Asn Arg Leu His Thr Leu Leu Pro Gln Thr Leu Arg 660 665 670 aac ctc ccc aag agc cta cag gtg ctg cgt ctc cgt gac aat tac ctg 2064 Asn Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Gln Val Leu Arg Leu Arg Asp Asn Tyr Leu 675 680 685 gcc ttc ttt aag tgg tgg agc ctc cac ttc ctg ccc aaa ctg gaa gtc 2112 Ala Phe Phe Lys Trp Trp Ser Leu His Phe Leu Pro Lys Leu Glu Val 690 695 700 ctc gac ctg gca gga aac cag ctg aag gcc ctg acc aat ggc agc ctg 2160 Leu Asp Leu Ala Gly Asn Gln Leu Lys Ala Leu Thr Asn Gly Ser Leu 705 710 715 720 cct gct ggc acc cgg ctc cgg agg ctg gat gtc agc tgc aac agc atc 2208 Pro Ala Gly Thr Arg Leu Arg Arg Leu Asp Val Ser Cys Asn Ser Ile 725 730 735 agc ttc gtg gcc ccc ggc ttc ttt tcc aag gcc aag gag ctg cga gag 2256 Ser Phe Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Phe Ser Lys Ala Lys Glu Leu Arg Glu 740 745 750 ctc aac ctt agc gcc aac gcc ctc aag aca gtg gac cac tcc tgg ttt 2304 Leu Asn Leu Ser Ala Asn Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Asp His Ser Trp Phe 755 760 765 ggg ccc ctg gcg agt gcc ctg caa ata cta gat gta agc gcc aac cct 2352 Gly Pro Leu Ala Ser Ala Leu Gln Ile Leu Asp Val Ser Ala Asn Pro 770 775 780 ctg cac tgc gcc tgt ggg gcg gcc ttt atg gac ttc ctg ctg gag gtg 2400 Leu His Cys Ala Cys Gly Ala Ala Phe Met Asp Phe Leu Leu Glu Val 785 790 795 800 cag gct gcc gtg ccc ggt ctg ccc agc cgg gtg aag tgt ggc agt ccg 2448 Gln Ala Ala Val Pro Gly Leu Pro Ser Arg Val Lys Cys Gly Ser Pro 805 810 815 ggc cag ctc cag ggc ctc agc atc ttt gca cag gac ctg cgc ctc tgc 2496 Gly Gln Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser Ile Phe Ala Gln Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys 820 825 830 ctg gat gag gcc ctc tcc tgg gac tgt ttc gcc ctc tcg ctg ctg gct 2544 Leu Asp Glu Ala Leu Ser Trp Asp Cys Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala 835 840 845 gtg gct ctg ggc ctg ggt gtg ccc atg ctg cat cac ctc tgt ggc tgg 2592 Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Val Pro Met Leu His His Leu Cys Gly Trp 850 855 860 gac ctc tgg tac tgc ttc cac ctg tgc ctg gcc tgg ctt ccc tgg cgg 2640 Asp Leu Trp Tyr Cys Phe His Leu Cys Leu Ala Trp Leu Pro Trp Arg 865 870 875 880 ggg cgg caa agt ggg cga gat gag gat gcc ctg ccc tac gat gcc ttc 2688 Gly Arg Gln Ser Gly Arg Asp Glu Asp Ala Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala Phe 885 890 895 gtg gtc ttc gac aaa acg cag agc gca gtg gca gac tgg gtg tac aac 2736 Val Val Phe Asp Lys Thr Gln Ser Ala Val Ala Asp Trp Val Tyr Asn 900 905 910 gag ctt cgg ggg cag ctg gag gag tgc cgt ggg cgc tgg gca ctc cgc 2784 Glu Leu Arg Gly Gln Leu Glu Glu Cys Arg Gly Arg Trp Ala Leu Arg 915 920 925 ctg tgc ctg gag gaa cgc gac tgg ctg cct ggc aaa acc ctc ttt gag 2832 Leu Cys Leu Glu Glu Arg Asp Trp Leu Pro Gly Lys Thr Leu Phe Glu 930 935 940 aac ctg tgg gcc tcg gtc tat ggc agc cgc aag acg ctg ttt gtg ctg 2880 Asn Leu Trp Ala Ser Val Tyr Gly Ser Arg Lys Thr Leu Phe Val Leu 945 950 955 960 gcc cac acg gac cgg gtc agt ggt ctc ttg cgc gcc agc ttc ctg ctg 2928 Ala His Thr Asp Arg Val Ser Gly Leu Leu Arg Ala Ser Phe Leu Leu 965 970 975 gcc cag cag cgc ctg ctg gag gac cgc aag gac gtc gtg gtg ctg gtg 2976 Ala Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu Asp Arg Lys Asp Val Val Val Leu Val 980 985 990 atc ctg agc cct gac ggc cgc cgc tcc cgc tat gtg cgg ctg cgc cag 3024 Ile Leu Ser Pro Asp Gly Arg Arg Ser Arg Tyr Val Arg Leu Arg Gln 995 1000 1005 cgc ctc tgc cgc cag agt gtc ctc ctc tgg ccc cac cag ccc agt ggt 3072 Arg Leu Cys Arg Gln Ser Val Leu Leu Trp Pro His Gln Pro Ser Gly 1010 1015 1020 cag cgc agc ttc tgg gcc cag ctg ggc atg gcc ctg acc agg gac aac 3120 Gln Arg Ser Phe Trp Ala Gln Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Thr Arg Asp Asn 1025 1030 1035 1040 cac cac ttc tat aac cgg aac ttc tgc cag gga ccc acg gcc gaa 3165 His His Phe Tyr Asn Arg Asn Phe Cys Gln Gly Pro Thr Ala Glu 1045 1050 1055 2 1055 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Pro Met Lys Trp Ser Gly Trp Arg Trp Ser Trp Gly Pro Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 His Thr Ala Leu Pro Pro Pro Gln Gly Phe Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu His 20 25 30 Pro Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Gln Ala Ile Met Leu Ala Met Thr Leu Ala 35 40 45 Leu Gly Thr Leu Pro Ala Phe Leu Pro Cys Glu Leu Gln Pro His Gly 50 55 60 Leu Val Asn Cys Asn Trp Leu Phe Leu Lys Ser Val Pro His Phe Ser 65 70 75 80 Met Ala Ala Pro Arg Gly Asn Val Thr Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn 85 90 95 Arg Ile His His Leu His Asp Ser Asp Phe Ala His Leu Pro Ser Leu 100 105 110 Arg His Leu Asn Leu Lys Trp Asn Cys Pro Pro Val Gly Leu Ser Pro 115 120 125 Met His Phe Pro Cys His Met Thr Ile Glu Pro Ser Thr Phe Leu Ala 130 135 140 Val Pro Thr Leu Glu Glu Leu Asn Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asn Ile Met Thr 145 150 155 160 Val Pro Ala Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser His Thr 165 170 175 Asn Ile Leu Met Leu Asp Ser Ala Ser Leu Ala Gly Leu His Ala Leu 180 185 190 Arg Phe Leu Phe Met Asp Gly Asn Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Asn Pro Cys Arg 195 200 205 Gln Ala Leu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu 210 215 220 Thr His Leu Ser Leu Lys Tyr Asn Asn Leu Thr Val Val Pro Arg Asn 225 230 235 240 Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Glu Tyr Leu Leu Leu Ser Tyr Asn Arg Ile Val 245 250 255 Lys Leu Ala Pro Glu Asp Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Ala Leu Arg Val Leu 260 265 270 Asp Val Gly Gly Asn Cys Arg Arg Cys Asp His Ala Pro Asn Pro Cys 275 280 285 Met Glu Cys Pro Arg His Phe Pro Gln Leu His Pro Asp Thr Phe Ser 290 295 300 His Leu Ser Arg Leu Glu Gly Leu Val Leu Lys Asp Ser Ser Leu Ser 305 310 315 320 Trp Leu Asn Ala Ser Trp Phe Arg Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Leu 325 330 335 Asp Leu Ser Glu Asn Phe Leu Tyr Lys Cys Ile Thr Lys Thr Lys Ala 340 345 350 Phe Gln Gly Leu Thr Gln Leu Arg Lys Leu Asn Leu Ser Phe Asn Tyr 355 360 365 Gln Lys Arg Val Ser Phe Ala His Leu Ser Leu Ala Pro Ser Phe Gly 370 375 380 Ser Leu Val Ala Leu Lys Glu Leu Asp Met His Gly Ile Phe Phe Arg 385 390 395 400 Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Thr Leu Arg Pro Leu Ala Arg Leu Pro Met Leu 405 410 415 Gln Thr Leu Arg Leu Gln Met Asn Phe Ile Asn Gln Ala Gln Leu Gly 420 425 430 Ile Phe Arg Ala Phe Pro Gly Leu Arg Tyr Val Asp Leu Ser Asp Asn 435 440 445 Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ser Glu Leu Thr Ala Thr Met Gly Glu Ala Asp 450 455 460 Gly Gly Glu Lys Val Trp Leu Gln Pro Gly Asp Leu Ala Pro Ala Pro 465 470 475 480 Val Asp Thr Pro Ser Ser Glu Asp Phe Arg Pro Asn Cys Ser Thr Leu 485 490 495 Asn Phe Thr Leu Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Asn Leu Val Thr Val Gln Pro 500 505 510 Glu Met Phe Ala Gln Leu Ser His Leu Gln Cys Leu Arg Leu Ser His 515 520 525 Asn Cys Ile Ser Gln Ala Val Asn Gly Ser Gln Phe Leu Pro Leu Thr 530 535 540 Gly Leu Gln Val Leu Asp Leu Ser His Asn Lys Leu Asp Leu Tyr His 545 550 555 560 Glu His Ser Phe Thr Glu Leu Pro Arg Leu Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser 565 570 575 Tyr Asn Ser Gln Pro Phe Gly Met Gln Gly Val Gly His Asn Phe Ser 580 585 590 Phe Val Ala His Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg His Leu Ser Leu Ala His Asn 595 600 605 Asn Ile His Ser Gln Val Ser Gln Gln Leu Cys Ser Thr Ser Leu Arg 610 615 620 Ala Leu Asp Phe Ser Gly Asn Ala Leu Gly His Met Trp Ala Glu Gly 625 630 635 640 Asp Leu Tyr Leu His Phe Phe Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Leu Ile Trp Leu 645 650 655 Asp Leu Ser Gln Asn Arg Leu His Thr Leu Leu Pro Gln Thr Leu Arg 660 665 670 Asn Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Gln Val Leu Arg Leu Arg Asp Asn Tyr Leu 675 680 685 Ala Phe Phe Lys Trp Trp Ser Leu His Phe Leu Pro Lys Leu Glu Val 690 695 700 Leu Asp Leu Ala Gly Asn Gln Leu Lys Ala Leu Thr Asn Gly Ser Leu 705 710 715 720 Pro Ala Gly Thr Arg Leu Arg Arg Leu Asp Val Ser Cys Asn Ser Ile 725 730 735 Ser Phe Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Phe Ser Lys Ala Lys Glu Leu Arg Glu 740 745 750 Leu Asn Leu Ser Ala Asn Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Asp His Ser Trp Phe 755 760 765 Gly Pro Leu Ala Ser Ala Leu Gln Ile Leu Asp Val Ser Ala Asn Pro 770 775 780 Leu His Cys Ala Cys Gly Ala Ala Phe Met Asp Phe Leu Leu Glu Val 785 790 795 800 Gln Ala Ala Val Pro Gly Leu Pro Ser Arg Val Lys Cys Gly Ser Pro 805 810 815 Gly Gln Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser Ile Phe Ala Gln Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys 820 825 830 Leu Asp Glu Ala Leu Ser Trp Asp Cys Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala 835 840 845 Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Val Pro Met Leu His His Leu Cys Gly Trp 850 855 860 Asp Leu Trp Tyr Cys Phe His Leu Cys Leu Ala Trp Leu Pro Trp Arg 865 870 875 880 Gly Arg Gln Ser Gly Arg Asp Glu Asp Ala Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala Phe 885 890 895 Val Val Phe Asp Lys Thr Gln Ser Ala Val Ala Asp Trp Val Tyr Asn 900 905 910 Glu Leu Arg Gly Gln Leu Glu Glu Cys Arg Gly Arg Trp Ala Leu Arg 915 920 925 Leu Cys Leu Glu Glu Arg Asp Trp Leu Pro Gly Lys Thr Leu Phe Glu 930 935 940 Asn Leu Trp Ala Ser Val Tyr Gly Ser Arg Lys Thr Leu Phe Val Leu 945 950 955 960 Ala His Thr Asp Arg Val Ser Gly Leu Leu Arg Ala Ser Phe Leu Leu 965 970 975 Ala Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu Asp Arg Lys Asp Val Val Val Leu Val 980 985 990 Ile Leu Ser Pro Asp Gly Arg Arg Ser Arg Tyr Val Arg Leu Arg Gln 995 1000 1005 Arg Leu Cys Arg Gln Ser Val Leu Leu Trp Pro His Gln Pro Ser Gly 1010 1015 1020 Gln Arg Ser Phe Trp Ala Gln Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Thr Arg Asp Asn 1025 1030 1035 1040 His His Phe Tyr Asn Arg Asn Phe Cys Gln Gly Pro Thr Ala Glu 1045 1050 1055 3 3096 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(3096) 3 atg ggt ttc tgc cgc agc gcc ctg cac 27 met Gly Phe Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu His 5 ccg ctg tct ctc ctg gtg cag gcc atc atg ctg gcc atg acc ctg gcc 75 Pro Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Gln Ala Ile Met Leu Ala Met Thr Leu Ala 10 15 20 25 ctg ggt acc ttg cct gcc ttc cta ccc tgt gag ctc cag ccc cac ggc 123 Leu Gly Thr Leu Pro Ala Phe Leu Pro Cys Glu Leu Gln Pro His Gly 30 35 40 ctg gtg aac tgc aac tgg ctg ttc ctg aag tct gtg ccc cac ttc tcc 171 Leu Val Asn Cys Asn Trp Leu Phe Leu Lys Ser Val Pro His Phe Ser 45 50 55 atg gca gca ccc cgt ggc aat gtc acc agc ctt tcc ttg tcc tcc aac 219 Met Ala Ala Pro Arg Gly Asn Val Thr Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn 60 65 70 cgc atc cac cac ctc cat gat tct gac ttt gcc cac ctg ccc agc ctg 267 Arg Ile His His Leu His Asp Ser Asp Phe Ala His Leu Pro Ser Leu 75 80 85 cgg cat ctc aac ctc aag tgg aac tgc ccg ccg gtt ggc ctc agc ccc 315 Arg His Leu Asn Leu Lys Trp Asn Cys Pro Pro Val Gly Leu Ser Pro 90 95 100 105 atg cac ttc ccc tgc cac atg acc atc gag ccc agc acc ttc ttg gct 363 Met His Phe Pro Cys His Met Thr Ile Glu Pro Ser Thr Phe Leu Ala 110 115 120 gtg ccc acc ctg gaa gag cta aac ctg agc tac aac aac atc atg act 411 Val Pro Thr Leu Glu Glu Leu Asn Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asn Ile Met Thr 125 130 135 gtg cct gcg ctg ccc aaa tcc ctc ata tcc ctg tcc ctc agc cat acc 459 Val Pro Ala Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser His Thr 140 145 150 aac atc ctg atg cta gac tct gcc agc ctc gcc ggc ctg cat gcc ctg 507 Asn Ile Leu Met Leu Asp Ser Ala Ser Leu Ala Gly Leu His Ala Leu 155 160 165 cgc ttc cta ttc atg gac ggc aac tgt tat tac aag aac ccc tgc agg 555 Arg Phe Leu Phe Met Asp Gly Asn Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Asn Pro Cys Arg 170 175 180 185 cag gca ctg gag gtg gcc ccg ggt gcc ctc ctt ggc ctg ggc aac ctc 603 Gln Ala Leu Glu Val Ala Pro Gly Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu 190 195 200 acc cac ctg tca ctc aag tac aac aac ctc act gtg gtg ccc cgc aac 651 Thr His Leu Ser Leu Lys Tyr Asn Asn Leu Thr Val Val Pro Arg Asn 205 210 215 ctg cct tcc agc ctg gag tat ctg ctg ttg tcc tac aac cgc atc gtc 699 Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Glu Tyr Leu Leu Leu Ser Tyr Asn Arg Ile Val 220 225 230 aaa ctg gcg cct gag gac ctg gcc aat ctg acc gcc ctg cgt gtg ctc 747 Lys Leu Ala Pro Glu Asp Leu Ala Asn Leu Thr Ala Leu Arg Val Leu 235 240 245 gat gtg ggc gga aat tgc cgc cgc tgc gac cac gct ccc aac ccc tgc 795 Asp Val Gly Gly Asn Cys Arg Arg Cys Asp His Ala Pro Asn Pro Cys 250 255 260 265 atg gag tgc cct cgt cac ttc ccc cag cta cat ccc gat acc ttc agc 843 Met Glu Cys Pro Arg His Phe Pro Gln Leu His Pro Asp Thr Phe Ser 270 275 280 cac ctg agc cgt ctt gaa ggc ctg gtg ttg aag gac agt tct ctc tcc 891 His Leu Ser Arg Leu Glu Gly Leu Val Leu Lys Asp Ser Ser Leu Ser 285 290 295 tgg ctg aat gcc agt tgg ttc cgt ggg ctg gga aac ctc cga gtg ctg 939 Trp Leu Asn Ala Ser Trp Phe Arg Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Leu 300 305 310 gac ctg agt gag aac ttc ctc tac aaa tgc atc act aaa acc aag gcc 987 Asp Leu Ser Glu Asn Phe Leu Tyr Lys Cys Ile Thr Lys Thr Lys Ala 315 320 325 ttc cag ggc cta aca cag ctg cgc aag ctt aac ctg tcc ttc aat tac 1035 Phe Gln Gly Leu Thr Gln Leu Arg Lys Leu Asn Leu Ser Phe Asn Tyr 330 335 340 345 caa aag agg gtg tcc ttt gcc cac ctg tct ctg gcc cct tcc ttc ggg 1083 Gln Lys Arg Val Ser Phe Ala His Leu Ser Leu Ala Pro Ser Phe Gly 350 355 360 agc ctg gtc gcc ctg aag gag ctg gac atg cac ggc atc ttc ttc cgc 1131 Ser Leu Val Ala Leu Lys Glu Leu Asp Met His Gly Ile Phe Phe Arg 365 370 375 tca ctc gat gag acc acg ctc cgg cca ctg gcc cgc ctg ccc atg ctc 1179 Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Thr Leu Arg Pro Leu Ala Arg Leu Pro Met Leu 380 385 390 cag act ctg cgt ctg cag atg aac ttc atc aac cag gcc cag ctc ggc 1227 Gln Thr Leu Arg Leu Gln Met Asn Phe Ile Asn Gln Ala Gln Leu Gly 395 400 405 atc ttc agg gcc ttc cct ggc ctg cgc tac gtg gac ctg tcg gac aac 1275 Ile Phe Arg Ala Phe Pro Gly Leu Arg Tyr Val Asp Leu Ser Asp Asn 410 415 420 425 cgc atc agc gga gct tcg gag ctg aca gcc acc atg ggg gag gca gat 1323 Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ser Glu Leu Thr Ala Thr Met Gly Glu Ala Asp 430 435 440 gga ggg gag aag gtc tgg ctg cag cct ggg gac ctt gct ccg gcc cca 1371 Gly Gly Glu Lys Val Trp Leu Gln Pro Gly Asp Leu Ala Pro Ala Pro 445 450 455 gtg gac act ccc agc tct gaa gac ttc agg ccc aac tgc agc acc ctc 1419 Val Asp Thr Pro Ser Ser Glu Asp Phe Arg Pro Asn Cys Ser Thr Leu 460 465 470 aac ttc acc ttg gat ctg tca cgg aac aac ctg gtg acc gtg cag ccg 1467 Asn Phe Thr Leu Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Asn Leu Val Thr Val Gln Pro 475 480 485 gag atg ttt gcc cag ctc tcg cac ctg cag tgc ctg cgc ctg agc cac 1515 Glu Met Phe Ala Gln Leu Ser His Leu Gln Cys Leu Arg Leu Ser His 490 495 500 505 aac tgc atc tcg cag gca gtc aat ggc tcc cag ttc ctg ccg ctg acc 1563 Asn Cys Ile Ser Gln Ala Val Asn Gly Ser Gln Phe Leu Pro Leu Thr 510 515 520 ggt ctg cag gtg cta gac ctg tcc cac aat aag ctg gac ctc tac cac 1611 Gly Leu Gln Val Leu Asp Leu Ser His Asn Lys Leu Asp Leu Tyr His 525 530 535 gag cac tca ttc acg gag cta cca cga ctg gag gcc ctg gac ctc agc 1659 Glu His Ser Phe Thr Glu Leu Pro Arg Leu Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser 540 545 550 tac aac agc cag ccc ttt ggc atg cag ggc gtg ggc cac aac ttc agc 1707 Tyr Asn Ser Gln Pro Phe Gly Met Gln Gly Val Gly His Asn Phe Ser 555 560 565 ttc gtg gct cac ctg cgc acc ctg cgc cac ctc agc ctg gcc cac aac 1755 Phe Val Ala His Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg His Leu Ser Leu Ala His Asn 570 575 580 585 aac atc cac agc caa gtg tcc cag cag ctc tgc agt acg tcg ctg cgg 1803 Asn Ile His Ser Gln Val Ser Gln Gln Leu Cys Ser Thr Ser Leu Arg 590 595 600 gcc ctg gac ttc agc ggc aat gca ctg ggc cat atg tgg gcc gag gga 1851 Ala Leu Asp Phe Ser Gly Asn Ala Leu Gly His Met Trp Ala Glu Gly 605 610 615 gac ctc tat ctg cac ttc ttc caa ggc ctg agc ggt ttg atc tgg ctg 1899 Asp Leu Tyr Leu His Phe Phe Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Leu Ile Trp Leu 620 625 630 gac ttg tcc cag aac cgc ctg cac acc ctc ctg ccc caa acc ctg cgc 1947 Asp Leu Ser Gln Asn Arg Leu His Thr Leu Leu Pro Gln Thr Leu Arg 635 640 645 aac ctc ccc aag agc cta cag gtg ctg cgt ctc cgt gac aat tac ctg 1995 Asn Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Gln Val Leu Arg Leu Arg Asp Asn Tyr Leu 650 655 660 665 gcc ttc ttt aag tgg tgg agc ctc cac ttc ctg ccc aaa ctg gaa gtc 2043 Ala Phe Phe Lys Trp Trp Ser Leu His Phe Leu Pro Lys Leu Glu Val 670 675 680 ctc gac ctg gca gga aac cag ctg aag gcc ctg acc aat ggc agc ctg 2091 Leu Asp Leu Ala Gly Asn Gln Leu Lys Ala Leu Thr Asn Gly Ser Leu 685 690 695 cct gct ggc acc cgg ctc cgg agg ctg gat gtc agc tgc aac agc atc 2139 Pro Ala Gly Thr Arg Leu Arg Arg Leu Asp Val Ser Cys Asn Ser Ile 700 705 710 agc ttc gtg gcc ccc ggc ttc ttt tcc aag gcc aag gag ctg cga gag 2187 Ser Phe Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Phe Ser Lys Ala Lys Glu Leu Arg Glu 715 720 725 ctc aac ctt agc gcc aac gcc ctc aag aca gtg gac cac tcc tgg ttt 2235 Leu Asn Leu Ser Ala Asn Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Asp His Ser Trp Phe 730 735 740 745 ggg ccc ctg gcg agt gcc ctg caa ata cta gat gta agc gcc aac cct 2283 Gly Pro Leu Ala Ser Ala Leu Gln Ile Leu Asp Val Ser Ala Asn Pro 750 755 760 ctg cac tgc gcc tgt ggg gcg gcc ttt atg gac ttc ctg ctg gag gtg 2331 Leu His Cys Ala Cys Gly Ala Ala Phe Met Asp Phe Leu Leu Glu Val 765 770 775 cag gct gcc gtg ccc ggt ctg ccc agc cgg gtg aag tgt ggc agt ccg 2379 Gln Ala Ala Val Pro Gly Leu Pro Ser Arg Val Lys Cys Gly Ser Pro 780 785 790 ggc cag ctc cag ggc ctc agc atc ttt gca cag gac ctg cgc ctc tgc 2427 Gly Gln Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser Ile Phe Ala Gln Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys 795 800 805 ctg gat gag gcc ctc tcc tgg gac tgt ttc gcc ctc tcg ctg ctg gct 2475 Leu Asp Glu Ala Leu Ser Trp Asp Cys Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala 810 815 820 825 gtg gct ctg ggc ctg ggt gtg ccc atg ctg cat cac ctc tgt ggc tgg 2523 Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Val Pro Met Leu His His Leu Cys Gly Trp 830 835 840 gac ctc tgg tac tgc ttc cac ctg tgc ctg gcc tgg ctt ccc tgg cgg 2571 Asp Leu Trp Tyr Cys Phe His Leu Cys Leu Ala Trp Leu Pro Trp Arg 845 850 855 ggg cgg caa agt ggg cga gat gag gat gcc ctg ccc tac gat gcc ttc 2619 Gly Arg Gln Ser Gly Arg Asp Glu Asp Ala Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala Phe 860 865 870 gtg gtc ttc gac aaa acg cag agc gca gtg gca gac tgg gtg tac aac 2667 Val Val Phe Asp Lys Thr Gln Ser Ala Val Ala Asp Trp Val Tyr Asn 875 880 885 gag ctt cgg ggg cag ctg gag gag tgc cgt ggg cgc tgg gca ctc cgc 2715 Glu Leu Arg Gly Gln Leu Glu Glu Cys Arg Gly Arg Trp Ala Leu Arg 890 895 900 905 ctg tgc ctg gag gaa cgc gac tgg ctg cct ggc aaa acc ctc ttt gag 2763 Leu Cys Leu Glu Glu Arg Asp Trp Leu Pro Gly Lys Thr Leu Phe Glu 910 915 920 aac ctg tgg gcc tcg gtc tat ggc agc cgc aag acg ctg ttt gtg ctg 2811 Asn Leu Trp Ala Ser Val Tyr Gly Ser Arg Lys Thr Leu Phe Val Leu 925 930 935 gcc cac acg gac cgg gtc agt ggt ctc ttg cgc gcc agc ttc ctg ctg 2859 Ala His Thr Asp Arg Val Ser Gly Leu Leu Arg Ala Ser Phe Leu Leu 940 945 950 gcc cag cag cgc ctg ctg gag gac cgc aag gac gtc gtg gtg ctg gtg 2907 Ala Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu Asp Arg Lys Asp Val Val Val Leu Val 955 960 965 atc ctg agc cct gac ggc cgc cgc tcc cgc tat gtg cgg ctg cgc cag 2955 Ile Leu Ser Pro Asp Gly Arg Arg Ser Arg Tyr Val Arg Leu Arg Gln 970 975 980 985 cgc ctc tgc cgc cag agt gtc ctc ctc tgg ccc cac cag ccc agt ggt 3003 Arg Leu Cys Arg Gln Ser Val Leu Leu Trp Pro His Gln Pro Ser Gly 990 995 1000 cag cgc agc ttc tgg gcc cag ctg ggc atg gcc ctg acc agg gac aac 3051 Gln Arg Ser Phe Trp Ala Gln Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Thr Arg Asp Asn 1005 1010 1015 cac cac ttc tat aac cgg aac ttc tgc cag gga ccc acg gcc gaa 3096 His His Phe Tyr Asn Arg Asn Phe Cys Gln Gly Pro Thr Ala Glu 1020 1025 1030 4 1032 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Gly Phe Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu His Pro Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Gln 1 5 10 15 Ala Ile Met Leu Ala Met Thr Leu Ala Leu Gly Thr Leu Pro Ala Phe 20 25 30 Leu Pro Cys Glu Leu Gln Pro His Gly Leu Val Asn Cys Asn Trp Leu 35 40 45 Phe Leu Lys Ser Val Pro His Phe Ser Met Ala Ala Pro Arg Gly Asn 50 55 60 Val Thr Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Asn Arg Ile His His Leu His Asp 65 70 75 80 Ser Asp Phe Ala His Leu Pro Ser Leu Arg His Leu Asn Leu Lys Trp 85 90 95 Asn Cys Pro Pro Val Gly Leu Ser Pro Met His Phe Pro Cys His Met 100 105 110 Thr Ile Glu Pro Ser Thr Phe Leu Ala Val Pro Thr Leu Glu Glu Leu 115 120 125 Asn Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asn Ile Met Thr Val Pro Ala Leu Pro Lys Ser 130 135 140 Leu Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser His Thr Asn Ile Leu Met Leu Asp Ser 145 150 155 160 Ala Ser Leu Ala Gly Leu His Ala Leu Arg Phe Leu Phe Met Asp Gly 165 170 175 Asn Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Asn Pro Cys Arg Gln Ala Leu Glu Val Ala Pro 180 185 190 Gly Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr His Leu Ser Leu Lys Tyr 195 200 205 Asn Asn Leu Thr Val Val Pro Arg Asn Leu Pro Ser Ser Leu Glu Tyr 210 215 220 Leu Leu Leu Ser Tyr Asn Arg Ile Val Lys Leu Ala Pro Glu Asp Leu 225 230 235 240 Ala Asn Leu Thr Ala Leu Arg Val Leu Asp Val Gly Gly Asn Cys Arg 245 250 255 Arg Cys Asp His Ala Pro Asn Pro Cys Met Glu Cys Pro Arg His Phe 260 265 270 Pro Gln Leu His Pro Asp Thr Phe Ser His Leu Ser Arg Leu Glu Gly 275 280 285 Leu Val Leu Lys Asp Ser Ser Leu Ser Trp Leu Asn Ala Ser Trp Phe 290 295 300 Arg Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Leu Asp Leu Ser Glu Asn Phe Leu 305 310 315 320 Tyr Lys Cys Ile Thr Lys Thr Lys Ala Phe Gln Gly Leu Thr Gln Leu 325 330 335 Arg Lys Leu Asn Leu Ser Phe Asn Tyr Gln Lys Arg Val Ser Phe Ala 340 345 350 His Leu Ser Leu Ala Pro Ser Phe Gly Ser Leu Val Ala Leu Lys Glu 355 360 365 Leu Asp Met His Gly Ile Phe Phe Arg Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Thr Leu 370 375 380 Arg Pro Leu Ala Arg Leu Pro Met Leu Gln Thr Leu Arg Leu Gln Met 385 390 395 400 Asn Phe Ile Asn Gln Ala Gln Leu Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Phe Pro Gly 405 410 415 Leu Arg Tyr Val Asp Leu Ser Asp Asn Arg Ile Ser Gly Ala Ser Glu 420 425 430 Leu Thr Ala Thr Met Gly Glu Ala Asp Gly Gly Glu Lys Val Trp Leu 435 440 445 Gln Pro Gly Asp Leu Ala Pro Ala Pro Val Asp Thr Pro Ser Ser Glu 450 455 460 Asp Phe Arg Pro Asn Cys Ser Thr Leu Asn Phe Thr Leu Asp Leu Ser 465 470 475 480 Arg Asn Asn Leu Val Thr Val Gln Pro Glu Met Phe Ala Gln Leu Ser 485 490 495 His Leu Gln Cys Leu Arg Leu Ser His Asn Cys Ile Ser Gln Ala Val 500 505 510 Asn Gly Ser Gln Phe Leu Pro Leu Thr Gly Leu Gln Val Leu Asp Leu 515 520 525 Ser His Asn Lys Leu Asp Leu Tyr His Glu His Ser Phe Thr Glu Leu 530 535 540 Pro Arg Leu Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser Tyr Asn Ser Gln Pro Phe Gly 545 550 555 560 Met Gln Gly Val Gly His Asn Phe Ser Phe Val Ala His Leu Arg Thr 565 570 575 Leu Arg His Leu Ser Leu Ala His Asn Asn Ile His Ser Gln Val Ser 580 585 590 Gln Gln Leu Cys Ser Thr Ser Leu Arg Ala Leu Asp Phe Ser Gly Asn 595 600 605 Ala Leu Gly His Met Trp Ala Glu Gly Asp Leu Tyr Leu His Phe Phe 610 615 620 Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Leu Ile Trp Leu Asp Leu Ser Gln Asn Arg Leu 625 630 635 640 His Thr Leu Leu Pro Gln Thr Leu Arg Asn Leu Pro Lys Ser Leu Gln 645 650 655 Val Leu Arg Leu Arg Asp Asn Tyr Leu Ala Phe Phe Lys Trp Trp Ser 660 665 670 Leu His Phe Leu Pro Lys Leu Glu Val Leu Asp Leu Ala Gly Asn Gln 675 680 685 Leu Lys Ala Leu Thr Asn Gly Ser Leu Pro Ala Gly Thr Arg Leu Arg 690 695 700 Arg Leu Asp Val Ser Cys Asn Ser Ile Ser Phe Val Ala Pro Gly Phe 705 710 715 720 Phe Ser Lys Ala Lys Glu Leu Arg Glu Leu Asn Leu Ser Ala Asn Ala 725 730 735 Leu Lys Thr Val Asp His Ser Trp Phe Gly Pro Leu Ala Ser Ala Leu 740 745 750 Gln Ile Leu Asp Val Ser Ala Asn Pro Leu His Cys Ala Cys Gly Ala 755 760 765 Ala Phe Met Asp Phe Leu Leu Glu Val Gln Ala Ala Val Pro Gly Leu 770 775 780 Pro Ser Arg Val Lys Cys Gly Ser Pro Gly Gln Leu Gln Gly Leu Ser 785 790 795 800 Ile Phe Ala Gln Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Asp Glu Ala Leu Ser Trp 805 810 815 Asp Cys Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Val 820 825 830 Pro Met Leu His His Leu Cys Gly Trp Asp Leu Trp Tyr Cys Phe His 835 840 845 Leu Cys Leu Ala Trp Leu Pro Trp Arg Gly Arg Gln Ser Gly Arg Asp 850 855 860 Glu Asp Ala Leu Pro Tyr Asp Ala Phe Val Val Phe Asp Lys Thr Gln 865 870 875 880 Ser Ala Val Ala Asp Trp Val Tyr Asn Glu Leu Arg Gly Gln Leu Glu 885 890 895 Glu Cys Arg Gly Arg Trp Ala Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Glu Glu Arg Asp 900 905 910 Trp Leu Pro Gly Lys Thr Leu Phe Glu Asn Leu Trp Ala Ser Val Tyr 915 920 925 Gly Ser Arg Lys Thr Leu Phe Val Leu Ala His Thr Asp Arg Val Ser 930 935 940 Gly Leu Leu Arg Ala Ser Phe Leu Leu Ala Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu 945 950 955 960 Asp Arg Lys Asp Val Val Val Leu Val Ile Leu Ser Pro Asp Gly Arg 965 970 975 Arg Ser Arg Tyr Val Arg Leu Arg Gln Arg Leu Cys Arg Gln Ser Val 980 985 990 Leu Leu Trp Pro His Gln Pro Ser Gly Gln Arg Ser Phe Trp Ala Gln 995 1000 1005 Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Thr Arg Asp Asn His His Phe Tyr Asn Arg Asn 1010 1015 1020 Phe Cys Gln Gly Pro Thr Ala Glu 1025 1030 

1. An isolated Toll-like-receptor polypeptide consisting essentially of (i) the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2; (ii) a variant thereof which has immunomodulatory activity; or (iii) a fragment of (i) or (ii) which has immunomodulatory activity.
 2. A polypeptide according to claim 1 wherein the variant (ii) has at least 70% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 3. A polypeptide according to claim 2 which has at least 70% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 over a region of at least 70% of the full-length sequence provided by SEQ ID NO. 1 and exhibits toll-like receptor functionality.
 4. A polypeptide according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the variant (ii) has at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 5. A polypeptide according to claim 2 which has at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 over a region of at least 60 contiguous amino acids and exhibits toll-like receptor functionality.
 6. A polypeptide according to claim 1 wherein the fragment (iii) is a peptide of up to 150 amino acids in length and exhibits toll-like receptor functionality.
 7. A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide according to any one of claims 1-3.
 8. A polynucleotide encoding a Toll-like receptor polypeptide which has immunomodulatory activity, which polynucleotide consists essentially of: (a) the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a sequence complementary thereto; (c) a sequence which hybridises under stringent conditions to a sequence as defined in (a) or (b); (d) a sequence that is degenerate as a result of the genetic code to a sequence as defined in (a), (b) or (c); or (e) a sequence having at least 60% identity to a sequence as defined in (a), (b), (c) or (d).
 9. A polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim 8 which is mRNA.
 10. A polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim 8 which is DNA.
 11. A polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim 8 which is cDNA.
 12. An isolated toll-like receptor polypeptide which is obtainable by expression in vivo or in vivo of a polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim
 8. 13. A polypeptide according to claim 12 which has the structural features conserved amongst toll-like receptors.
 14. An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence according to any one of claims 7 to 11, which is capable of expressing a polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim
 12. 15. An expression vector according to claim 14 which is a plasmid, phage or viral vector.
 16. A host cell comprising an expression vector according to claim 14 or claim
 15. 17. A polyclonal or monoclonal antibody, or a chimera or fragment thereof, which is specific for a polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to
 3. 18. A method for identification of a compound that modulates Toll-like receptor activity, which method comprises contacting a polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 12 with a test substance and monitoring for immunomodulatory activity.
 19. A compound which modulates Toll-like receptor activity and which is identifiable by a method according to claim
 18. 20. A compound according to claim 19 which is a peptide or polypeptide.
 21. A compound according to claim 19 which is an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide.
 22. A method of treating a subject having an inflammatory or cardiovascular disorder, systemic infection or autoimmune disease that is responsive to Toll-like receptor modulation, which method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 19 to 21 or an antibody according to claim
 17. 23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the disorder is a viral, fungal or bacterial infection, asthma, rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, an inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes or septic shock syndrome associated with systemic infection involving gram positive or gram negative bacteria.
 24. A polypeptide comprising a fragment or variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, which is capable of inhibiting the activity of TLR9 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional variant thereof, for use in the treatment of an immune or inflammatory disorder.
 25. A polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 12, a polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim 8 or a compound according to claim 19 for use as an adjuvant.
 26. The use of a compound according to claim 19 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an immune or inflammatory disorder.
 27. The use of a polypeptide comprising a fragment or variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, which is capable of inhibiting the activity of TLR9 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional variant thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an immune or inflammatory disorder.
 28. The use of a polypeptide according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 12, a polynucleotide according to claim 7 or claim 8 or a compound according to claim 19 in the manufacture of an adjuvant or vaccine formulation. 